Transfer factor in chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis |
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Authors: | Dr Massimo Masi Caterina De Vinci Olavio Roberto Baricordi |
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Institution: | (1) Allergology and Clinical Immunology Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Bologna, Italy;(2) Experimental Urology Unit, Division of Urology, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy;(3) Department of Genetics, University of Ferrara, Italy;(4) Dept. of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bologna, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy |
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Abstract: | Fifteen patients suffering from chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis were treated with an in vitro produced TF specific for Candida
albicans antigens and/or with TF extracted from pooled buffy coats of blood donors. CMI of the patients was assessed using
the LMT and the LST in presence of candidine. The aim of the study was the clinical evaluation of TF treatment and the incidence
of positive tests before, during, and after therapy. Immunological data were matched using the Chi square test. 87 LMT were
performed for each antigen dose and at the dilution of 1/50, 58.9% (33/56) tests were positive during non-treatment or non-specific
TF treatment. On the contrary 83.9% (26/31) were positive during specific TF treatment (P<0.05). In the LST, a significant
decrease of thymidine uptake in the control cultures in presence of autologous or AB serum was observed when patients were
matched according to non-treatment, and both non specific (P<0.05) and specific TF treatment (P<0.01). Only during specific
TF treatment was a significant increase of reactivity against the Candida antigen at the highest concentration noticed, when
compared with the period of non specific treatment (P<0.01). Clinical observations were encouraging: all but one patient experienced
significant improvement during treatment with specific TF. These data confirm that orally administered specific TF, extracted
from induced lymphoblastoid cell-lines, increases the incidence of reactivity against Candida antigens in the LMT. LST reactivity
appeared not significantly increased with respect to the periods of non treatment, but was significantly increased when it
was compared to the non-specific TF treatment periods. At the same time, a clinical improvement was noticed. |
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Keywords: | Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis transfer factor candidiasis Candida albicans cell-mediated immunodeficiency |
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